Footfall decline in retail parks accelerates

Footfall in retail parks fell 1.6% in February, marking the fastest decline since November 2013. According to figures released by the BRC and Springboard, the fall was driven by reduced spending on household items and furniture – traditionally significant footfall drivers for retail park destinations – and compared to a 2.5% increase in February 2016.

Shopping centres also saw a marked decline in visitor numbers, down 2.6% following a 0.6% fall in the same month last year, but high street footfall picked up, recording a rise of 0.1% on the previous year’s 2.9% decline.

Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard, commented: “High Streets are clearly benefiting as the destination of choice for dining and leisure, whilst shopping centres continue to underperform as they struggle with a weak entertainment and leisure offer coupled with increasing caution amongst consumers around retail spend.”